New! Carlsbad Reads Together

We want to hear from YOU! Carlsbad Reads Together is an annual event that engages the entire Carlsbad community through reading, engagement and discussion of selected reading materials. Programs and events will occur throughout the month of April 2023, but nominations are open now! Click here to learn more about the 2023 Carlsbad Reads Together program and submit your book nomination for the adult reading selection, available now through Oct. 4.  

New! Friends of the Library Bookstore Silent Auction

The Dove Friends of the Library Bookstore is holding a Silent Auction now through Monday, Sept. 26 during regular Bookstore hours. Sale items include sets of Will and Ariel Durant’s Story of Civilization, Carl Sandburg’s Abraham Lincoln, the Shorter Oxford Dictionary, Childcraft, and My Book House.

The Silent Auction ends at 6 p.m. on Monday, Sept. 26. Winners need not be present to win. Visit the Friends of the Library Bookstore for more details.

• Friends of the Carlsbad Library Bookstore Hours at Dove Library
• Mondays: 10:30 – 6:30 p.m.
• Tuesdays – Saturdays: 10:30 – 4:00 p.m.

• Friends of the Carlsbad Library Bookstore Hours at Cole Library
• Tuesdays – Fridays: 10:30 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.

New! Jennifer Coburn Author Event

Join us on Saturday, Oct. 8 at. 2 p.m. in the Schulman Auditorium at Dove Library for an author discussion in partnership with Adventures by the Book, featuring author Jennifer Coburn. Cradles of the Reich will be available for purchase during the event before the release date on Tuesday, Oct. 11. An author signing will follow the discussion.

New! Oktoberfest

Carlsbad City Library is proud to participate in this year’s Oktoberfest Family Fall Festival, presented by Carlsbad Rotary Clubs. Look for our booth from

1:00 – 4:00 p.m. at this year’s celebration, located at the Carlsbad Strawberry Company on Oct. 1. We will provide a craft for children and fun giveaways for all ages! $5 entry fee required to the Carlsbad Strawberry Company, with optional purchases available to experience the pumpkin patch as well as food, beverages and souvenirs. All proceeds from Oktoberfest go to charities in the Carlsbad area supported by the Rotary Clubs of Carlsbad. We look forward to seeing you there!

New! OverDrive Magazines

Magazine lovers, rejoice! OverDrive eMagazine access has been restored. Log in with your Carlsbad City Library card to enjoy content from hundreds of titles, including The Economist, Sports Illustrated Kids, Better Homes & Gardens, Hola! and more. OverDrive eMagazines are available to browse on the web or through the OverDrive app on IOS/Android. Visit the Serra Digital Download Library page to get started.

New! Bendable

Bendable is a learning marketplace that allows people of all ages to discover new knowledge and skills through online courses, in-person events, and other learning resources.

Under Carlsbad’s unique Job Readiness Room program, entry-level job seekers take online job-readiness courses to earn a micro-credential through Bendable. Those who complete the training are guaranteed at least one job interview with a local employer in one of several fields the job seeker chooses. Click the image to fill out an interest form to join the pilot program. 

New! Grow Your Garden

Carlsbad City Library’s Grow Your Garden program lets you swap succulents, seeds, fruit, vegetables and herbs from your garden with your neighbors and learn new gardening techniques.

Saturday, Sept. 24, 10:00 a.m. – noon Georgina Cole Library, 1250 Carlsbad Village Drive

Integrated Pest Management – Kathryn Blankinship, Master Gardener, incorporates irrigation practices and limited use of pesticides to encourage beneficial insect populations.

For more planting tips, visit the Master Gardener San Diego website.

New! Hoopla

Carlsbad City Library now offers free access to streaming music, comics, movies & TV shows, eBooks, eAudiobooks and readalongs with Hoopla. More than 80 languages are included among all formats. Patrons can check out 6 titles per month for ad-free content with no wait times. Hoopla is compatible with Apple and Android mobile phones, Apple TV and Android TV, Roku, Fire TV and web streaming.

Here are some titles that you can find on Hoopla right now:

• The Viscount Who Loved Me by Julia Quinn (eBook)
• The Mystery of Mrs. Christie by Marie Benedict (eBook)
• Monstress by Marjorie M. Liu (eComic)
• The Order by Daniel Silva (eBook)
• Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring (soundtrack)

Honoring the Hispanic community on Kanopy

To celebrate National Hispanic Heritage Month, Carlsbad City Library is pleased to present this collection of films on Kanopy. To view these narrative and documentary titles honoring the Hispanic community, click here and log in to your Kanopy account.

Exploration HUB

We are excited for you to come in and use the Exploration HUB located at Dove Library! 

Reserve a self-guided HUB Station where you can do the following:  

• Digitize home movies or scan old slides, negatives and photos. 
• Use Adobe Creative Cloud, GameMaker Studio 2 and other apps.  
• Create and cut designs for DIY projects with the Silhouette Cameo. 
• Submit your original 3D design for printing on our Dremel 3D45 printer. 
• Staff are onsite to provide guidance during your session.

Sign up for a free class and learn how to use the equipment and software to digitize home movies, scan old photos, slides and negatives. Gets hands on experience with Arduino, create projects with Adobe Creative Cloud, expand your knowledge on 3D design and much more!

Wednesday, Sept. 27, 5:30 – 6:30 p.m.

Digital Conversion Demo: VHS tapes, Super 8, DV tapes and more

Participate in a demo and learn how to convert your old VHS tapes, Super 8 or 8mm reels, DV/DV mini tapes or Hi8 tapes to digital format. This class is for patrons ages 13 and older. A Carlsbad City Library card with internet privileges is required.  

Genealogy Programs & Services

Ask a Genealogist

Whether you’re just getting started in genealogy, or need help breaking down a brick wall, you can “Ask a Genealogist” during a special one-hour appointment with qualified staff at the Georgina Cole Library. Staff will help you navigate the library’s highly regarded print and online resources to answer your specific genealogy questions. Fill out the “Ask a Genealogist” form to get started.

Focus On: Finding Your Mexican Roots – Tuesday, Sept. 20, 2 – 4 p.m.

Library Learning Center, upstairs computer lab, 3368 Eureka Place

Discover how to get started tracing your Mexican roots using genealogy records available in the Ancestry Library Edition database and FamilySearch.org website. A FamilySearch.org account is required. Please create a free FamilySearch account before the class.

This hands-on computer class is for ages 13 and older, and will be held in the upstairs Computer Lab at the Library Learning Center located at 3368 Eureka Place in Carlsbad. A Carlsbad City Library card with internet privileges is required. Register here for a session.

Genealogy Partnership Programs – For a list of partnership programs offered by Carlsbad City Library and the North San Diego County Genealogical Society, please view the genealogy programs calendar.

Safe Streets Together

On Aug. 23, the City of Carlsbad declared a local state of emergency for traffic safety following a significant increase in collisions involving bikes and e-bikes. The city is taking a balanced approach focused on education, infrastructure and enforcement while asking the community to also do their part for traffic safety. 

• Eliminate distractions
• Slow down and watch your speed
• Obey all traffic lights and signals
• Know the bike and e-bike rules of the road
• Use crosswalks when available as a pedestrian
• Be kind and patient

We are all part of the Carlsbad community, and working together, we can make our streets safer for everyone. Visit carlsbadca.gov/saferstreets for more resources on improving traffic safety.

We’re here to help

We’re available to answer your questions over the phone, through our chat service or by email during open library hours.

• Email: librarian@carlsbadca.gov
• Chat with us.
• Para ayuda en español 442-339-5500 o bilingual@carlsbadca.gov

All Carlsbad City Library location hours

Monday – Thursday 10 a.m. – 7 p.m.

Friday and Saturday 10 a.m. – 5 p.m.

City of Carlsbad | 1200 Carlsbad Village Drive, Carlsbad, CA 92008